WCO's Kunio Mikuriya

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, WCO Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya stated that “security, in particular global trade security, became a priority policy objective and is now part of Customs’ existing border protection portfolio to prevent such attacks from re-occurring”.

“Customs administrations across the globe have made considerable efforts to counter security threats,” stressed the Secretary General. “It is therefore fitting that as we commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, we renew our firm commitment to continue to take speedy action against terrorism and other forms of organized crime,” he concluded.

In response to 9/11, over the last 10 years the WCO has developed many international standards including the renowned SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, and further supported national Customs administrations to implement the Framework through a vigorous and highly successful capacity building programme.

This Framework promotes supply chain security through the submission of advance cargo information, the application of risk management, the use of non-intrusive cargo scanning equipment, the development of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programmes, and partnerships between Customs administrations and between Customs and their trade stakeholders.

To further assist its Members and others who play a role in global trade security, the WCO has published a Research Paper – The Customs Supply Chain Security Paradigm and 9/11: Ten Years On and Beyond. Source WCO.